USPTO Patents Application 10687850

AMENDMENT TO THE CLAIMS

The following listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the
application.

Listing of Claims

1. (Previously presented) A method of performing a measurement on a biological fluid in a test
strip comprising:

providing a biological fluid test strip including

a capillary fill chamber extending a length along the test strip from an intake opening
to a terminus,

a first pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber, and

a second pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber;

dosing the test strip with a biological fluid effective to cause the biological fluid to flow from
the intake opening toward the terminus;

applying a first test signal to at least one of the first pair of electrodes;

measuring a first response to the first test signal;

maintaining the first pair of electrodes in an inoperative state after the measuring the first
response;

applying a second test signal to at least one of the second pair of electrodes, wherein the
second test signal is a signal having an AC component;

measuring a second response to the second test signal; and

performing a measurement upon the biological fluid after the measuring the second response.

2. (Original) The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring the first response to the first test
signal is effective to indicate a contact of the first pair of electrodes and the biological fluid.

Amendment and Response 1 ' nder 37 CFR § 111
Serial No. 10/687,850
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3. (Original) The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring the second response to the second
test signal is effective to indicate a contact of the second pair of electrodes and the biological
fluid.

4. (Original) The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring the first response to the first test
signal is effective to indicate a contact of the first pair of electrodes and the biological fluid and
the measuring the second response to the second test signal is effective to indicate a contact of
the second pair of electrodes and the biological fluid.

5. (Previously presented) The method of claim 1 wherein the performing a measurement upon the
biological fluid includes applying a measurement test signal to at least one of the first pair of
electrodes.

6. (Previously presented) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a third pair of
electrodes in operative communication with the chamber wherein the performing a measurement
upon the biological fluid includes applying a measurement test signal to at least_one of the third
pair of electrodes.

7. (Currently amended) A method of indicating acceptable fill time of a biological fluid in a test
strip comprising:

providing a biological fluid test strip including

a capillary fill chamber extending a length along the test strip from an intake opening
to a terminus,

a first pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber,

a second pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber; and

a third pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber;

dosing the test strip with a biological fluid effective to cause the biological fluid to flow from
the intake opening toward the terminus;

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Amendment and Response Under 37 CFR § 111 7404-558:TJC:561158
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flowing a biological fluid from the opening toward the terminus;

first determining when the biological fluid contacts the first pair of electrodes;

second determining when the biological fluid contacts the second pair of electrodes;

determining a fill time value based upon the first determining and the second determining;

comparing the fill time value to a predetermined value; and

third measuring an a first analyte concentration of the biological fluid using the third pair of
electrodes;

wherein the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes are not used to measure
the first analyte concentration or any second analyte concentration .

8. (Original) The method of claim 7 further comprising:

indicating an error condition if the fill time value exceeds the predetermined value.

9. (Original) The method of claim 7 further comprising:

indicating an error condition if the fill time value is greater than or equal to the predetermined
value.

10. (Original) The method of claim 7 further comprising:

performing a measurement upon the biological fluid if the fill time value is less than the
predetermined value.

1 1 . (Original) The method of claim 7 further comprising:

performing a measurement upon the biological fluid if the fill time value is less than or equal
to the predetermined value.

Amendment and Response 1 ' nder 37 CFR § 111
Serial No. 10/687,850
Group Art Unit 1795

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12. (Currently amended) A method of performing a measurement on a biological fluid in a test
strip comprising:

providing a biological fluid test strip including

a capillary fill chamber extending a length along the test strip from an intake opening
to a terminus,

a first pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber;

a second pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber; and

a third pair of electrodes in operative communication with the chamber;

dosing the test strip with a biological fluid effective to cause the biological fluid to flow from
the intake opening toward the terminus;

applying a first test signal to at least one of the first pair of electrodes;

measuring a first response to the first test signal;

maintaining the first pair of electrodes in an inoperative state after the measuring the first
response;

applying a second test signal to at least one of the second pair of electrodes;
measuring a second response to the second test signal;

determining a fill time of the chamber based upon the first response and the second response;

applying a measurement test signal to at least one of the third pair of electrodes after the
measuring the second response;

measuring a third response to the third test signal; and

determining a first concentration of an analyte in the biological fluid using the third response;

wherein the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes are not used to measure
the first analyte concentration or any second analyte concentration .

13. (Previously presented) The method of claim 12 wherein the measuring the first response to
the first test signal is effective to indicate a contact of the first pair of electrodes and the
biological fluid.

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14. (Previously presented) The method of claim 12 wherein the measuring the second response
to the second test signal is effective to indicate a contact of the second pair of electrodes and the
biological fluid.

15. (Previously presented) The method of claim 12 wherein the measuring the first response to
the first test signal is effective to indicate a contact of the first pair of electrodes and the
biological fluid and the measuring the second response to the second test signal is effective to
indicate a contact of the second pair of electrodes and the biological fluid.

16. (Previously presented) The method of claim 1 wherein the second test signal is an AC signal.

Amendment and Response 1 ' nder 37 CFR § 111
Serial No. 10/687,850
Group Art Unit 1795

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